For press card purposes, yes - but the condition comes not from the Press Law but from the title list in the Press Card Regulation.
The Condition in the Regulation
Art. 19/1 of the Press Card Regulation, listing the titles eligible for a press card at daily political newspapers, writes in subparagraph (ç): the responsible managing editor or responsible editor, provided they live in the place where the newspaper is published.
What Does the Press Law Say?
Art. 5 of Law No. 5187 requires six conditions of a responsible editor, and the second is: having a place of residence in Turkey and residing there permanently.
| Legislation | Residence condition | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Law No. 5187 Art. 5/1-b | Having a place of residence in Turkey and residing there permanently | To be a responsible editor |
| Press Card Reg. Art. 19/1-ç | Living in the place where the newspaper is published | To obtain a card under that title at a daily political newspaper |
A Similar Condition on the Official Announcement Side
The same logic appears in Press Advertising Agency rules. Art. 20/2 of General Assembly Decision No. 67 of 15 February 1977 requires those to be included in the minimum staff not to do any work requiring physical activity - even partly - outside their staff duty, and to reside in the place where the newspaper they work for is published.
Principle Decision No. 94 of 16/08/1985 interprets that condition: in construing the term "place", regard is had to the distance between the newspaper's office and the person's place of residence and to transport facilities, and to whether the duty is performed in a manner consistent with its purpose and on a continuing basis.
The Responsible Editor's Other Burdens
Residence is not the only burden of the role. Law No. 5187 attaches the following to the responsible editor:
- Criminal liability - where the author is not known (Art. 11)
- Publishing a correction and reply - within three days in a daily publication, one day on a news site (Art. 14)
- Responsibility for the information in the imprint (Arts. 4, 15)
- The duty of delivery and retention - a two-year archive on a news site (Arts. 10, 17)
- Service of process - the place of management counts as their place of residence for as long as the duty continues (Art. 29)
Summary
- The Press Law asks only that a responsible editor have a place of residence in Turkey and reside there permanently.
- The Press Card Regulation additionally requires living in the place where the newspaper is published, for a card under that title at a daily political newspaper.
- A similar locality condition exists in the official announcement minimum staff rules and has been interpreted functionally by Principle Decision No. 94.